Segmental block.



H. E. MILLER. SEGMENTAL BLOC-K. APPLIOATIOH 211,21) 2.4, 1914.

V Av w Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

3H wanton airman,

citizen of the United HENRY llHIiLEIR, OF LINDEN HEIGHTS, 01110.

SEG-MENTAL BLOCK.

. Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.'

Application filed April 4, 1914. Serial No. 829,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I HENRY E. MILLER, a

den Heights, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Segmental Blocks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

.lVIy invention relates to'segmental blocks used forforming circularstructures and particularly. adapted for building various sizes of sewerconduits. My blocks are so constructed that they may be assembled ininterlocking relation to form'a smooth continuous inside and outsidesurface, the main object being the provision of longitudinallyextending. tongues extending radially inwardly and outwardly alongopposite edges of the block. In this manner, one block is always thecount-er part ofanother for the same size structure and in this mannerthe necessity of manufacturing both right and left hand pieces isobviated.

An object of my invention resides in so constructing my blocks, that'itis not absolutely necessary to use aform when building a conduit.To-overcome this, I have resorted to a structure which temporarily locksone block to another when they are in assembled relation, so that theymay not, accidentally disengage themselves.

Other objects of my invention will become more apparent after a detaileddescription of the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters ofreference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of the upper portion of a conduit section, inwhich my blocks are used, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper half of aconduit section showing the manner iii which the blocks may be assembledin building the same, F ig..3 is a view in perspective of one of theblocks shown separate. and Fi 4 is. a side elevation of the structureshown in Fig. 3.

I will first describe the preferred construction of one of the blocksthemselves and then describe the manner in which they are assembled.Referring particularly to Figs. 1

and 3, it will be noted that each block comprises a. main body formed ofcurved outer and.in'ner walls 1 and 2, these walls being held spacedfrom each other by means of radially outwardly extending walls 3 and 4.These walls cooperate to form a longitudinally extending hollow portion5, which is tates, residing at Lin-' desirable to give lightness ofweight and to facilitate the heating of the block when made of clay or alike substance. Extending longitudinally along the walls 3 and 4 areradially projecting tongues 6 and 7, both of these tongues being spacedsomewhat from the walls of the main body portion to form grooves 8 and9. In order to avoid making right and left hand bloc-ks, I have soarranged these tongues that the member 6 projects radially inward fromthe overhanging portion 10 of the upper wall 1, while the member 7projects radially outward from an overhanging portion 11 of the lowerwall 2. Both-the tongues 6 and 'Z and likewise the grooves S and 9 areof equal height and depth so that all blocks made from the same moldwill be symmetrical with respect to each other and will furtherinterlock in the manner desired. Each block is also provided with asupplemental tongue and groove structure designed to assist in buildingup a conduit section so that the various blocks, during the process ofconstruction, will not collapse and will further be held in theircorrect position without the use of a form. At 12 I have shown alaterally projecting longitudinally extending tongue along the outsideface of the radiall outwardly extending tongue 7. This supp mentaltongue 12 is designed to cooperate with a groove 13 formed in the sidesof the wall 3 of the main body portion to lie adjacent the inwardlyprojecting tongue 6 of the adj acent block. The ends of each block arealso preferably formed with cut-out portions 1 to form end grooves andprojecting portions 14; to form end tongues. Referring to Fig. 1, itwill be noted that all of the blocks being of identical structure,.theymay be assembled to form a conduit in the manner shown, all thetongues-and grooves 6, 7 and 8 and 9 cooperating to form an interlockingstructure. It is, of course, understood that mortar or other sealingstructure is to be used in the correct amounts. Referring to Fig. 2,wherein is shown that these blocks are assembled in step a plan of theup-. per half of a conduit, it will be noted by step order, this orderbeing such that the succeeding top block is always in the rear of thelower ones to the extent of half the length of a block. This is the de-.

sirable way of building up a section andis further rendered necessary bythe peculiar supplemental tongue and groove structure.

For instance, the three blocks to the right of Fig. 2, numbered 15, arein position, as well as those blocks numbered 16 and 17. It is thendesired to place the next one 18 in position and this may be donewithout sliding the section endwise into position. The supplementaltongue 12 is made small enough so that the section 18 may be slid intothe position shown in-Fig. 1, by bringing the adjacent walls 19 and 20of the radially projecting tongues 7 and 6 respectively into contactingengagement with each other. In other words, the amount the tongue 12projects out from the face of the radially projecting tongue 7 isapproximately equal to the space left between the various sections andadapted to be later filled with mortar. After the block has thus beenplaced in position, by its own weight, it moves so that the supplementaltongue 12 and the groove 13 will come in engagement. Because of thisengagement, the block 18 will be supported at points 21 Y and 22 and itis, therefore, impossible for this block to become accidentallydislodged. When I state that the blocks are supported at thispoint, Itake, into consideration also that a sufficient amount of mortar hasbeen placed at these points to guard against all possible leakage inorout of the conduit section. After the block 18 has thus been placed inposition, the succeeding blocks 23 and 24 may be likewise assembled.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be apparent that the structure I have provided,permits. the building up of a conduit section without the use of a form,this latter feature being accomplished principally by the provision ofthe supplemental tongue and groove structure 12-13. In addition,

the structure is such that all parts are formed identically and rightsand lofts done 4 awa with. Also, the abuttin portions of all bloc s areformed of aninter ocln'ng nature,

so that leakage in or out of the conduit sec-' tongues and grooves 12and 13 be interchanged from that shown in the drawings or whether theybe on opposite faces of the main tongues and grooves. It is essential,however, that some portion of the main tongues and grooves carry thesesupplemental tongues and grooves and it is to be understood that the"appended claim is to be interpreted. in the light of this paragraph.

What I claim, is: v

A segmental block comprising a. body portion, longitudinally extendingtongues along opposite edges of said bod said ton es being both spacedfrom saidbody to m a groove between each tongue and said body, oneofsaid tongues projecting radially inward from the outside portion ofthe block and the other projecting radiallyfloutward from the insideportion of the block,

the side'of said body portion adjacent the inwardly projecting tonguesbeing provided with a longitudinally extending groove, and alaterallyprojecting longitudinally extending tongue along the outside face ofsaid radially outwardly extending tongue.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY MILLER.

Witnesses: v

WALTER E. L. BooK, A. PHELPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

